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Honorable Mentions
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Some of the best musicians (and composers in their own right) perform in Maria Schneider's orchestra and have for years and years. Schneider as a composer is really one of America's hidden gems.
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T* is funny, educated, full of people who know how to fucking play, and lyrically diverse. Just check out the track "blmhyl" (which stands for "Baby Let Me Hump Your Leg"). My favourite song on the album is a tie between "Antonio's Home" and "Sucker."
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While not theSTART's best album (that honour goes to Initiation), this one lays the sci-fi pop on damn thick and pulls together a great album with standout songs. Take a listen to "Runaway" or "Master Plan."
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This album is worth it just for the song "Fuck the Sex Pistols."
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I had no notion of who Dax Riggs was before a couple of months ago. It's a fantastic album with everything I feel is missing from the singer-songwriters to which he's been compared.
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Not as much fun as 2005's "Doomed from the Get Go" and seriously lacking in the Heather Mars as guitarist department, still, "Give the Night a Black Eye" is everything you should hear in punk music RIGHT NOW.
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With this album Tegan & Sara have finally broken out of cutesy and into mature. Not only does The Con get progressively better as the album plays, but it gets progressively better each time you listen to it. Also, could reviewers please stop mentioning that they're lesbian twin sisters? I mean, come on, it's always mentioned that they're lesbian twin sisters. Maybe we could have some mention of Tegan and Sara without the mention that they're lesbian twin sisters?
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Probably the best barely-known punk rock album of the year after "Give the Night a Black Eye."
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This band is no longer together, though the main forces behind the group, Jette Kelly and Holmes Ives, are still working separately. This is a compelling mix of jazz and trip hop with a nice dash of sex thrown in.
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Better than Rated R, better than Songs for the Deaf, positively pisses on Lullabies to Paralyze. Thanks for not including your baby-mama and her friend Shirley Manson on this one Mr. Homme. Too bad about Nick.
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The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning Of And All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
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Honorable Mentions
I thought 2007 was really a particularly great year for music, so my year-end list would be incomplete without acknowledging a few other excellent honorable mentions as well:
11. Symphony X - Paradise Lost
12. Pain Of Salvation - Scarsick
13. Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
14. 3 - The End Is Begun
15. Down - Over The Under
16. Baroness - The Red Album
17. Overkill - Immortalis
18. Megadeth - United Abominations
19. Rush - Snakes And Arrows
20. Thought Chamber - Angular Perceptions
And finally, two amazing late discoveries from 2006:
--- Unexpect - In A Flesh Aquarium
--- And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - So Divided
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Terry Lynn - Kingston Logic
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Against Me - New Wave
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Nicole Atkins - Neptune City
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Jesse Malin - Glitter in the Gutter
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Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life
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MGMT - Auracular Spectacular
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Feist - The Reminder
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Jamie T - Panic Prevention
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Hot Springs - Volcano
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Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky
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Tool - 'Lateralus' Ltd Ed 2LP
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This album continues to captivate me. Vocally dynamic and musically passionate, this CD is a ride of emotion that still delivers constructed heaviness.
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On of my biggest musical surprises this year. I fell in love with this CD - not enough bands are embracing melodic exploration on the level that these guys are. As a whole, the entire album pans out theatrically and grips with tender lyrics coupled with skillfully crafted dynamic. Another awesome Relapse release, hope to see these guys embark on some diverse tours this year.
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This woman is my new hero. Earnest lyrics, passionate voice with a dash of insanity - what more could a girl ask for? As far as natural talent and charisma is concerned, Amy has it. There is no one like her right now and I can't wait to hear new music from her.
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These dudes are some of the greatest guys you will ever meet. All I have to say is Dave Wittie - any band with Dave is golden. Tracks like "Mental Shock" unleash the beast in all of us....a great CD to bring to the gym!
Thrash with a sense of humor - Muni Waste is gunna fuck you up!
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Machine Fucking Head - what more can I say? Robb Flynn has one of the most distinctive and endearing voices out there and rips on the guitar. A totally masterpiece, this band never lets down.
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Embracing the Mike Patton lover in me, Dillinger has become the poster child thinking man's metal. Carefully juxtaposed melodies, rhythmic experimentation and straight grindy mayhem - Dillinger have the whole package...doesn't hurt that they also come from the great state of New Jersey!
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If sounding like Phil Anselmo is a crime, so be it! This CD shocked me, it was a total throwback to stright-ahead, in-your-face metal. A must have.
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The line-up is to die for and the music draws out all the the great elements of Dino's playing. With his signature choppy brutality and Tommy's versatile voice, this band is definitely going to make big waves in '08. Tommy's voice sounds amazing on this record, he sings with real emotion without sacrificing intensity - simply brilliant. Oh yeah, Tim Yeung is pretty fucking brutal too!
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This release throws me back to the 90's - in the best way possible. An edgy post-hardcore element lines up with the dynamic of Neurosis, and not to mention one of the most dynamic front women around, Julie Christmas. Her voice is like none other - experimental, beautiful and brutal all at the same time.
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I have been waiting for this CD for years and it was definitely worth the wait.
Dirgy, yet poignant - this is a side of Phil that I hope is here to stay!
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Honorable Mentions
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Volbeat - Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil
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Greatest of all thing rock this year. After disappointing releases from some of the most established bands in Rock over the past 10 years, this was refreshing. The melodies are infectious and it's been a long time since we've had a band put out a smart rock record. Equal parts haunting, emotional, beautiful and punishing, this record is bound to be a classic.
Key Tracks: (The whole damn album is good, but if I gotta pick & choose)
Who's Got A Match?
9/15th's
Machines
A Whole Child Ago
Get Fucked Stud
Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
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A true return to form. With Teeth lacked the edge of this record, though that is not a put down to that record, just that this record combined the best things of old NIN and instrumental elements of The Fragile with the melodies that have made NIN pioneers in Rock. This also is the best political album released in the last 5 years, hand s down. I went to see Rage Against The Machine over the summer and remarked: "wow, they abandoned this to do Audioslave, while they could have had their most productive years during the Bush administration." Well at least Trent Reznor picked up the slack.
Key Tracks:
The Great Destroyer
Capital G
The Good Soldier
In This Twilight
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I'm a sucker for a sing-a-long record, and this one delivers song after song.
Key Tracks:
Thrash Unreal
White People For Peace
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So I wouldn't normally put a sdtk or compilation on here, but as this is one I cannot stop listening to and the fact that it's all previously released Beatles songs, this took me from a fair-weather fan to a believer in the Beatles legacy. To hear Selma Hayek sing back up vocals to "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and Dana Fuch's Janis Joplin-esque vocals on tracks like "Oh Darling" and "Helter Skelter" are riveting alone and these aren't even the original songs.
Key Tracks:
It's the Beatles, they are all pretty key...
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Gotta say, I've watched a few episodes of the show and I thought it was pretty funny, and maybe that humor adds to what is arguably one of the best Death (oh! I mean Deth) Metal albums released in a long time. There is an undercurrent of melody hidden within the brutal riffs and blistering breakdowns, but more than anything, it is fun.
Key Tracks:
Murmaider
Fansong
Birthday Dethday
Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle
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I'm a fan of the Foo's and Dave Grohl as are most people, but I really believe that for the first time with the Foo Fighters, Grohl has made a truly significant album. It's smart and complex, the more you listen to it the more it grabs you. Much like Biffy Clyro's Puzzle you find new things you like about it with each listen. Unlike most previous releases from the Foo Fighters I'd also say that from beginning to end this album is top notch. I always enjoyed specific songs from the records, but this is the first full album I can genuinely say I love from beginning to end and that's pretty rare with any artist. This record also contains the best riffs they've ever written as showcased on the tracks below.
Key tracks:
Erase/Replace
But, Honestly
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So a lot of punk/hardcore front men have gone the folk/alt country route over the last year, the best probably being Tim Barry of Avail, but this is a truly solid record. We've seen these albums pop up over the past year from Greg Graffin (Bad Religion), Dustin Kensrue (Thrice), even Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), but Chuck Ragan's offering is as passionate as anything he's ever done with Hot Water Music, and his gruff voice just makes the songs all that more engaging.
Key Tracks:
The Boat
California Burritos
Hearts Of Stone
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Not a big fan of the Rick Rubin stuff Saul has done in the past, but his pairing with Trent Reznor really showcased his talent. Nothing beats smooth beats, and this guy definitely brings the rhymes, and hints at melodies through layered tracks. This was a great pairing and a real gem, though only available online so I recommend people check it out: http://niggytardust.com/saulwilliams/menuKey Tracks: Black History Month Sunday Bloody Sunday WTF! Skin Of A Drum
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Phil Anselmo has not sounded this good in years. Gotta say a lot of drama comes along with being a fan of this guy and every time I'm about to write him off he seems to draw me back in. This is arguably the best record by Down and I realize that probably offends purists, but having seen these guys in Phil's decline I think I just never really gave them a shot. Over The Under is a great piece of work with howling riffs that are as smooth as they are heavy. Oh yeah, and Phil sounds fuckin great on this record, not just screaming, but some singing as well. I know I'll never get my Pantera fix, but at least I know there's hope for it's legacy in Down. Key Tracks: N.O.D. I Scream On March the Saints
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At first listen I thought this was very similar to previous offerings from the band, which isn't a surprise as they are very niche, but was quickly proven wrong upon spending time with the record. These songs grew on me over time, and now I think it's their best work to date. They definitely wrote their best song to date on the album with "Tribal Connection" and if you haven't seen them live, you are missing out. It's damn near an orgy so watch out for the eastern European men. Key Tracks: Wonderlust King Tribal Connection
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Comus - Live at the Tarmonia Restaurant
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Carmen - Reissues
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Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden
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OK, Rush are easily one of my all time favorite and all time most important bands in my life so this would probably be here anyway. BUT, they went out and delivered an amazing and stellar release that I could not stop listening to. After all these years they are actually looser, better and more rocking than they have been in a long time!
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Look, we who work here have heard all the rhetoric but the bottom line is that this record is just THAT DAMN GREAT!! It truly is the metal release of the year! The mighty Machine head are just hitting their stride now! And the anger and venom that gets spit out of this record with the amazing lyrics ("Clenching..." alone makes the record brilliant) - damn, this is just awe-inspiring!
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This record is just frikkin cool! And deep! With so many flavors! There is really no surprise at all why they are so big overseas and, goddamn, they should be here too! Biffy is just one of those great bands with a nice steady developmental arc that scares me about how great the NEXT record should be! The best records are the one that take a few listens to absorb and that is the case here but it is so worthwhile!
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Look, I do miss the (obviously) Clint driven melodic side but when Sevendust are pissed off they make great records and this really is a pretty solid record! The ‘Dust are just one of the best ass-kicking hard-rock bands out there that are surviving and persevering despite lots of continual hardship.
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I have said for years that there are two different Clutch bands. There is the groove-driven-awe-inspiring brilliant band and there is the unfocused jam-art-band. The came close on the last record but on this one they finally got the perfect mixture of their 2 sides. This record, really is awesome!
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I have to tell you, I haven't really cared about a Megadeth record in a long time. I have checked em out but not much has gotten the blood flowing in a while. But Dave seems riled up again in more ways than one and I think this record is GRWAT! Yeah, when there is shit for him to bitch about it's better but okay, when the world is messed up someone has to scream and yell. The title track and "Never Walk Alone" are 2 of the best Megadeth songs I have heard in years!
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Let's be realistic - this is NOT their best work, musically it's pretty cool and pretty solid, lyrically there is some really weird stuff on this record. That being said there is also some really cool stuff here as well. I love the title track, "September Sun", "Halloween in Heaven" and "Some Stupid Tomorrow" among others. It's Type O so I am inclined to like it but Life is Killing Me got me way more excited.
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Look, I would pay the price of admission to hear Mark Lanegan sing the phone book! He would add just the right amount of gravitas to make it rival the greatest of art by depth of his voice and soul. This is definitely a cool record. I wanted to love the stuff with Isobel Campbell but that really pushed it, this is much closer to his stellar solo work that is just brilliant beyond words. This isn't at that level but it's definitely worth checking out and spending some time with.
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First record - brilliant, stellar, staggering. Second record the only staggering that was going on was done by drug addled Phil Anselmo. This is a solid return to form and a really good record to boot! Solid Sabbath groove rock that just kicks ass. I had kinda written Down off as a one shot phenomenon and was really pleasantly surprised to be wrong!
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It's funny because I remember when Entombed just destroyed all the competition with Left Hand Path as a death metal band and then just when they might have been left behind they delivered the staggering Wolverine Blues. There was some good stuff after that but that was the peak of my passion for them for a while. I bought this one based on a good review and curiosity to see if they could still "bring it". I was psyched - it's a great in-yer-face blast of anger. Solid - I recommend it!
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Crazy chick but she writes good songs.
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Best Jimmy record since Bleed America!
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Think this came out in 2006 however it wasn't until Saturday Night Live did I hear about it.
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Cover of HOLY DIVER is a bonus to this already amazing CD!
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2008 in North America but 2007 in Australia so it counts! 2008 will be AIRBOURNE'S year. Can't get enough of this record.
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I was a smart sucker for getting this one! Love Ministry.
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Metal album of the year. Band doesn't disappoint on CD or live.
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One of the best singer/songwriter's in Canada
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Genius.
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Hands down, the best metal album of 2007. Don't even try to argue, hate, or deny! Nothing else compares. This set the bar for all metal albums in 2007. This is the only record - besides any Opeth masterpiece- that can have 10 minute songs that don't feel like 10 minute songs. I still get goose bumps at the 8:41 mark of "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent" through the end of the song. This is the best MH song since "Davidian." A true trashy masterwork. Easily my most listened to album of 2007, as well.
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So aggro, so fast, so vicious, so quirky. I can't get enough of it. And they are from New Jersey. They are brilliant. They are fun. They don't take themselves seriously, but their fans do. "Milk Lizard," "82588" and "Fix Your Face" are way more interesting to me than any other hipster metal junk out there!
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"On March The Saints" is their best sludge metal anthem since "Temptation's Wings." Phil hasn't sounded this good, this lucid, or this listenable in years. Heavy in a slow, deep and hard way! Love Love love it. Makes me proud to be metal to love this record.
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A namesake, yes! But I feel transported back to an era during which I wasn't even born when listening to her raspy, smoky voice. The music is throw back, but the lyrics are modern. It's a kewl juxtaposition, and I always crank this on late nights when cleaning the apartment or just chilling out solo with a drink.
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True heavy metal. "Trial Of Champions" or "The Great Hall Of Feasting" are in constant rotation in my iPod. They outdid their mastery on Advance And Vanquish here. Conjuring Maiden and Priest is never a bad thing, and these made me throw my horns high every time I cranked it.
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Every year, a simple, metallic record makes my Top 10. It's usually Lamb Of God, who don't do anything but play Southern, crunchy metal. They didn't put out an album this year, so my most listened to Pantera-style, crunchy metal record was this. Virile, tough, and brutal. A perfect record for when you want to punch people but don't want to get arrested, so you turn this on and it drains you of yer anger.
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Brutal brutal brutal. Another punch-me-in-the-face record. It was a toss up b/w this and A Life Once Lost's "Iron Gag," but I prefer "Hunter" to "IG," so this won out for my face ripping extreme metal for extreme people record of the year.
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A return to form for a metal legend. "Sleepwalker" is my fave track, and I totally rock my face off to "Never Walk Alone." Love the Mustaine lyrics, and the venom that is present here.
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I know, another RR release, but seriously, I listen to this on every flight I take, and "Clouds Over California" is their best song, and from 3:29 thru the end of the song makes me want to headwalk in a moshpit. Dez never sounded better than when he sings, "LET THE CHAOS REIGN." They get heavier with each release, and this is their finest, heaviest hour. LOVE IT!
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Way better than "Retaliation," but not as good as "Harmful If Swallowed." The cult of "DANE COOK" has eclipsed the comedy, but I still love him. His delivery always has me chuckling, and I am at the point where I like comedians and stand up comedy better than anything, so this gets my nod.
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Honorable Mentions
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Volbeat - Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil
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A masterpiece, enough said.
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Nightwish being one of my favorite bands, I was anxious to hear the new singer, and she did not disappoint. This band is just going to get better and better.
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Brutal death metal at its finest.
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Fell in love with these guys instantly. They remind me of Fear Factory back in the early 90's. Great album.
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This album is awesome. A pissed off Al Jourgenson = an amazing album
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Great album.
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Anyone who likes metal must have this album in his or her collection no matter what. This is the new gospel for metal.
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This album is well worth the wait!
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These guys continue to produce amazing albums.
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One of the best metal albums, period.
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Honorable Mentions
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We can call this a triumph, OK? The minute we thought that this band was set to implode here comes a fucking masterstroke. Slayer. Faith No More. Justin Timberlake. They all collide on this near-perfect fucker of a record. And this is the kinda thing that happens over the Jeresey State Line? My chosen State of residence? Hell-sweet-hell yesssssssss!!!!!!!
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I love the fact that Symphony X's manly warbler Russ used to work as a knight at Medieval Times down the street from me in Lyndhurst, NJ. I also love the fact that Mike Romeo is the most unassuming guitar god to ever come outta Red Bank! Yeah, that's Jay and Silent Bob turf! Well, after a handful of good and occasionally great prog-metal platters the guys in the X finally threw done the chain mail gauntlet in the prog-metal stakes, wrote some great songs and even gave pals like Mike Portnoy, Dave Mustaine & Co. a run for their respective monies. Yes, Metallica, ELP and Yngwie all grab a cup of Joe together and the results make ya wanna shout it from the top of well....Medieval Times.
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So these onetime hardcore Helmetheads from the burbs of DC have finally made the transition to full-on bluesrockfurymeisters and kicks fucking ass. Like a swaggering, moonshine fueled moose of a record let loose in yer mammy's China shop. Best damn ZZ Top record this decade!
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Yeah, I know it came out in the UK a year ago. Whatever. Let's just say it was a weird and occasionally sucky year. Brother, you think you got problems? Ms. Winehouse can probably top yours.
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Straight up metal album of the year. Riffs. Epics. Flynn and Demmel just laying down the religion of the riff. Ambitious in scope to the point where Burn My Eyes can probably smell its ass-hairs singe the competition is so damn hot. Yowsa.
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So the revolution's gotten a little slicker and easier on the ears than those days of searching for ol' Bill Bailey. This is a damn affecting and at times personalizing view of shitty America getting shittier all the time. The strident
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Jesu - Conquerer/Life Line
Godlfesh's Justrin Broadrick continues to make some of the most simultaneously disturbing and uplifting music you can possibly pour into your ears. Conquerer the LP is a mighty monolith of sound while Life Line the EP is just that -- a respite. A way back. Jesus and Mary Chain. Dinoasur Jr. My Bloody Valentine. Head of David. All of these records did that for me....damn I miss that feeling....Jesu is that kinda sonic soul salvation.
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Joe Strummer/Various: Joe Strummer/The Future Is Uncertain Soundtrack
Nina Simone, The Clash, the 101ers, Bob Dylan, a few heart-wrenching words from "Woody" himself amongst so many great casts and broadcasts. An audio portrait no only of a musical great. A rebel. A rocker. A genius. But a soul committed to music without prejudice,The soul of Joe Strummer will live on forever.
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the dirty black summer of love gets a little catchier but you still can't help but stop and wonder what decade these guys make their records in. Sabbath, Moby Grape, Sir Lord Baltimore continue to collide and coalesce in the muck and murk. No wonder why Phil Anselmo cites Witchcraft as the reason he started playing music again!
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Ragnarok now! In technicolor, 3-D and a lot of volume!
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Honorable Mentions
Baroness-The Red Album
Chris Cornell - Carry On
The End - Elementary
Explosions in the Sky - All of A Sudden, I Miss Everyone
HIM - Venus Doom
Divine Heresey-Bleed The Fifth
Municipal Waste-The Art of Partying
Pelican-City of Echoes
Swallow The Sun - Hope
Watain-Sworn To the Dark...and of course, the hot poop I've been involved in this year....Megadeth-United Abominations, 3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up The Blades, Still Remains - The Serpent, Nightwish - Dark Passion Play, Within Tempation - The Heart of Everything
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Deep Purple – Fireball
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Led Zeppelin I
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Led Zeppelin II
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Led Zeppelin III
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Frank Zappa – One Size Fits All
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Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks
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Faith No More – Epic
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Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
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Metallica – Master Of Puppets
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Soundgarden – Superunknown
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Clutch can do no wrong! Brilliant lyrics, amazing grooves, this is one of my favorite driving records of all time.
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Best overall metal album I've heard in decades, if not ever.
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Still one of the most underappreciated band's out there, like a Pink Floyd of our time. A slightly more cerebral album than some of their previous releases, it took me a few listens to realize just how amazing this album truly is.
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It helps that I was there, but both the CD and DVD of this show are just amazing. RJD sounds better than ever and it is so great to hear them playing deep cuts like "Falling Off The Edge Of The World".
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Their best album in some time, Dream Theater found a really great balance between the prog and metal elements on this record. While chock full of odd time signatures and virtuosic instrument work, there are many great grooves, hooks and melodies that make Systematic Chaos a truly great metal album, despite their usual "prog-metal" categorization.
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An absolutely compelling album going back to Porcupine Tree's more experimental days.
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Killer unsigned band from Toronto, like a heavier version of QOTSA, they totally rock with great angular riffs and great vocals.
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Mike Patton can do no wrong. I think I wrote the same thing last year about the Peeping Tom record.
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Witchcraft is simply too late for their time. Sounding straight out of the 60s this record is one of the most refreshing and unique rock albums I've heard in years.
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While not up to par with NOLA, this is still a great album. "On March The Saints" has to be one of the heaviest, grooviest songs ever written that will make the hairs on your neck stand up.
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Honorable Mentions
3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up The Blades: In a nutshell, their best album yet. I quote their Aquarian Weekly review when I say "It sounds like all of Finland burning to the ground".
Year Long Disaster - Year Long Disaster: Very cool album.
Turbonegro - Retox: Euroboy is GOD!
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Kent - Tillbaka till Samtiden
Best Swedish band, this album is not as good as the last masterpiece but a great album.
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I hope Al & Co will do more albums beacuse this one is really good.
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I have almost all the other albums by Porcupine and this one is great!
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I did not like "With Teeth" but this one rocks, Nine Inch Nails are back!
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An e.p but still great and mellow.
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Blackie Lawless is not an outlaw!
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Back again after a few not so good albums.
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I hope they do i studio-album. Dio and Iommi rules!
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Black metal rules again!
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Down
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dEFDUMp
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Monkey Hole
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Porcupine Tree
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Manu Chao
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Minus the Bear
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LCD Soundsystem
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Ministry
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Machine Head
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Dream Theater
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Though a little shy of the magnificence of its predecessor, 'The Big Dirty' was definitely worth the wait. The lyrics are great, the riffs are kick ass and the art is superb!
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If you know me, you'll be as surprised as I am that a Silverchair album made the cut, let alone the massive dent that it did. Amazing songcraft, ambitious arrangments and everything catered for right down to the last detail. A truly amazing accomplishment, and no signs of this growing old.
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Negative Plane - Et In Saecula Saeculorum
This album is truly amazing. Black Metal in its roots but offering so much more. It's hard to describe what it is this offers, but a big part of its virtue is the sound of this album and the delivery/conviction. Nothing else out there is like it, yet is feels so welcome.
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Typically, the more popular BM bands become, the more people hate them. So too, many were down on Watain with the release of this their third album. Like Dissection's final offering it is melodic, but it is also savage, dark, bleak and oppressive, with enough Dissection and Mayhem influence to inspire though not leaving the listener feel that too much influence has been drawn.
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This record is so fast, so savage, has soooo many killer, flesh flaying riffs and Morbid Angel-esque vibes that you'd be hard pressed to truly believe it's by a hardcore band. The sound, the precision, the unruliness of its delivery. This is amazing!
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At first I didn't like this one so much, but after a few listens the dynamics and diversity really started to shine through, and compared to the previous album which I feel is the least inspired of all their works, it is not only a welcome return to form, but an exceptional and extroadinary album in its own right.
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Another platter of pure madness from DEP. If you get this band, then you'll understand why they rate. Performance, conviction, arrangement. It's all out there, yet it makes such perfect sense.
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Probably the most innovative and inspiring BM bands around today, and certainly up there with the more avant-garde acts making records, this is a little more 'metal' than their more recent efforts and relies a lot more on ambient passages and quiet sections. Not as amazing as the two releases prior, but still a masterpiece.
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One of those rare occasions where what Kerrang have to say about a band and an album is more or less in the ball park of being true. 2007's must own kick ass punk rock album. Forget those lamers like AMEN, Gallows is exactly what they claimed to be, but without the posturing.
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PTW certainly made their finest album to date with 'Versions'. Considering that their previous efforts were excellent, this is no mean feat, and I think that an even more varied songcraft and production has served the band well.
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Honorable Mentions
Katharsis - VVorldVVithoutEnd
Sigh - Hangman's Hymn
The Hives - The Black And White Album
The Donnas - Bitchin'
The Horrors - Strange House
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Year of the Band - Snakin' Out of Her Pants
The best album ever in the history of music that was never fully recorded, finished or released. But it damn well should have been.
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This band has inspired me again in every possible way. The more I listen to and watch this band the more genius they are to me. Brilliant.
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Johnny Marr man, Johnny fucking Marr!
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Stings kid... sounds like Sting...great tunes, long career ahead of them = I'm sold.
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One of the best live shows I have seen this year. Great songwriting.
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Say what you want people, this is a brilliant record. Boy's got talent....horrible fashion sense, but great talent. RIP Mama West.
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Song to song no filler on this album whatsoever. Fun as all hell!
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I was introduced to the band by "accident". Three people mentioned the band in a day and i was compelled to check it out. I love it with all my light black heart and i've played it so much that i've lost 60% of my friends.
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It's eerie, different and intelligent. Although Natasha Khan sounds like various ladies who play the piano she still masters a unique sound and vision. Yeah, bitches.
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Im going to jump on the hype wagon. I mean. i must. It's a great album. It doesn't get boring, wimpy and repetitous. My neck has been aching since the day of it's release
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Because Muse never lets me down and they are probably one of the best live acts around. Is it their best album? Probably not. Is it one of the best releases this year? Most likely
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I'm Finnish and I've always hated Nightwish. Seriously- hated with a passion, a dark passion. But now, for some reason they've created a solid album. I don't consider it a metal album at all it's more like a theatrical piece of sorts.
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This album was released in 2006 but it deserves to be on the list. The only flaw the album has is that it's too damn short! Our Norwegian brothers do it well.
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Opeth's whole production because it sounds new to me every year
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Just listen to it and you'll get it. If you can't appreciate the likes of Tom Waits and Nick Cave and dont like witty writing, sarcasm and theatrical spin on your music you should probably stay away from this.. and me.
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The first band that i don't mind playing seventeen minute songs.
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Elvis Costello is the man.
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Honorable Mentions
Honorable mention for finnish bands such as Nicole and Sydän Sydän. They are the best things happening in Finland at the moment. With happening i mean that me and my friends like them. Also, most of the Finnish Metal community are anxiously waiting for albums from Mokoma and Stam1na.
Live and learn.
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This easily is the record that got the most spins this year. I've never been a big fan of their earlier work but Frames hits all the right notes. The band has mastered their own style of progressive rock, which I can only describe as shades of Mogwai, Dredg, Porcupine Tree and Isis-light. Some amazing moments, ranging from slow and intimate to raging double bass buildups with layers of guitars. One record that you should only listen to with a pair of good headphones and a nice sofa.
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Volbeat - Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil
Volbeat's brand of riffing has been described as 'Elvis Metal'. Solid as a rock (n Roll), great liveperformance and a fanbase ranging from 12 to 70, this one is for everybody.
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Type O's latest is als one of their best and most creative records. It seems that bad things and depression result into excellent music. Also want to point out Kenny Hickey's excellent vocals.
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British prog-masters have returned with an epic record, which is actually a protest against the current generation. The 17:42 minute long Anesthetize is the beating heart of the record, and this track shows all facets of this band. It even has a neat Meshuggah-ish breakdown, and drummer Gavin Harrisson really shines throughout the disc.
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Phil, Rex, Kirk, Pepper and Jimmy rock. A band that has (ex) members of Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, Superjoint Ritual and Crowbar can only make excellent music. I do miss some crunchy riffs like 'Lifer'.
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Between The Buried And Me's Alaska was one of my favorite records of 2006, and this year these guys have topped themselves (again). Colors is a no holds barreled journey that takes you through death metal, instrumental pieces, some alternative country and heaps of melodic guitarwork. Some might call it musical wankery, I just say that people who say that probably just suck at playing an instrument, except their skinflute.
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Vheissu is a modern rock masterpiece, and it seems that Thrice is going to top it with The Alchemy Index parts 1 to 4. Part 1, Fire, shows the band's heavy 'guitar' side while part 2, Water, is all about dreamy songs with electronics. It somehow reminds of what the Deftones -should- be doing.
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Reznor crawled behind his Mac and composed this little disc full of electronic based songs. I prefer it over the rock-approach (as on With Teeth), and I consider NIN's The Fragile to be his best work anyways. Personally I would suggest that Mr Reznor locks himself up for a while and produce something to show the world that he is kind.
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Technically a 2006 release, but it got released in 2007 here in Europe. These guys from Kentucky amazed me with their blues fueled brand of hardrock, and they are not afraid of spicing things up with a metalriff here and there. That, and being an excellent live band, are the reasons why they made it to this list.
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A recent release from the almighty Dillinger. I do have to say it didn't impress me as much as Miss Machine, but again TDEP took names and kicked asses. This band isn't afraid to experiment and I can't wait for their next album.
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Pain - Psalms of Extinction
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Kent - Tillbaka till Samtiden
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Two thrash kids turn their focus to Spanish guitar (think flamenco) and the results are spectacular. Their cover of Metallica's "Orion" has no electric guitars or drums but still packs more of a punch than the original. Mas tequila!
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This album really reminds me of 70's pop-rock bands like Pilot ("Do You Believe In Magic") and Player ("Baby Come Back")...and I still like them!
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I don't know much about this band. I don't even know if they're actually from Montreal or anywhere else in Canada. All I know is their left-of-center bluegrass sound revolves around three very distinct voices. There's a woman who sounds like Janis Joplin; a guy who sounds like Tom Waits on a bender; and a second guy who is more of a crooner. Definitely not for everyone.
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If you don't own Def Leppard's "High And Dry", get online and download it right now. It rocks, doesn't it? Well, so does Endeveafter.
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For starters, I'd call "Teenager" an album full of sixties-influenced, Brit-pop but it goes farther than that. Well produced with a very rich and full sound. The vocals remind me of Syd Barrett, but more tunefull.
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I've kind of ignored The Hives ever since they became the next big thing. Taking that break has given me a new perspective on their latest record. Quite simply, it's what rock and roll should be, i.e. sweaty, catchy and rockin'! (although I have to admit, using "i.e." is not very rockin'). "Tick Tick Boom" rules!
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Jimmy Page has cleaned up the sound and edited some songs. Whether or not that was necessary, I don't know. What I do know is that six songs have been added to the original release and "More Zep = More Better!"
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This is punk rock. It makes you want to bounce around. It makes you want to chant along. It makes you want to consume many black and tans.
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I've got a policy of not putting Roadrunner releases in my Top 10 albums of the year. However, that doesn't apply to x-Roadrunner artists. Which brings us to the latest Annihilator album. Jeff waters has assembled a veritable who's who of metal to guest on this record - from Lexi Laiho of Children Of Bodom, to Corey Beaulieu of Trivium, to members of In Flames, Arch Enemy, Anvil, Lamb Of God, Lynam, The Haunted, Nevermore and Danko Jones. Pure metal with an extra topping of shredding.
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I heard their other stuff, knew they were good, but this time I really paid attention. Quirky, heavy, tunefull and proggy. I like it! But I do wonder whether I've hopped on the bandwagon too late? Have I become that guy who discovered Motorhead only after hearing "Another Perfect Day"?
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Puzzle Quest (PSP)
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Resistence - The Fall of Man (pS3)
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Ratchet and Clank - Tools of Destruction (PS3)
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Skate (PS3)
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truly a masterpiece of modern brutal metal
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commercial hard rock that delivers the goods again and again!
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another battleaxe to the head from these viking metal maestros.
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I couldn't stop playing this album over and over again.
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I thought I would hate this...but I LOVE it!
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FORSAKEN!!!!! WOW!!!
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if only for Amaranth.....it's like ABBA on steroids!
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but I wished they could have kept the original video with Caputo in it!
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includes one of their best ever songs, ‘Gods Of War Arise'
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well I guess I have to have ONE non-metal record and I kind of dug this album.
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Never
As usual, I hated everything that any press/critic loved especially the new Radiohead. Anything cool was not cool with me.
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Who needs a Pink Floyd reunion with Alchemist around?
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Very nice comeback after its uneven predecessor - none more metal.
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Pound for pound their best (and most THRASH) album ever - simple as that.
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The Space Lords return!
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Keeping modern epic metal interesting and DIRTY - very impressive!
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Their best in some time, and always a soft spot for me since they were one of the bands that got me into metal in the first place.
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3rd album; 3rd one smacked out of the park - this band is the measuring stick for Doom today.
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Not the magnificent comeback I had hoped, but my expectations were probably too high - still great.)
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I don't know why, exactly, but I haven't enjoyed a traditional Scandinavian black metal CD this much in years...maybe it's just that good.)
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Progressive doom? Something like that...really good, whatever it is.
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Honorable Mentions
...and one holdover from end of '06: Melechesh - Emissaries ("World Metal" that makes you want to headbang and bellydance at the same time - their best album yet BY FAR!)
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Machine Head - The Blackening
Every other album here gets a paragraph explaining why I like it.
Not this one. It's.... just.... fucking.... amazing....
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Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies Special Edition
While I recently became the admin for their MySpace page, the truth is that Killswitch has been my second-favorite band (second only to TOOL) since the second I heard "Alive Or Just Breathing." And by the way, is it just my imagination, or was "Element of One" played in an Eggo commercial on the jukebox? No matter. The point is, even if you're not a fan of Ronnie James Dio, you're still going to like KsE's version of "Holy Diver." Because you have no choice.
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Madina Lake - From Them, Through Us, To You
Okay, so I'm the admin for their page, too, but that has nothing to do with it, really. For exactly 100 days straight, I had FTTUTY securely lodged as disc three in my CD player of my Dodge Durango. If I really didn't think it was a great album (and, in my opinion, the absolute best in its class), I would tell you. I ain't afraid of no River People.
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Chevelle - Vena Sera
From the first time I heard Chevelle, I've been a fan of theirs. In the last year, I've really been rediscovering the older stuff, thanks to Vena Sera being shoved into my brain sideways. As a result, I've made Buster, the guy who owns the jukebox at my favorite bar, a few bucks richer.
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Divine Heresy - Bleed The Fifth
Quite possibly the best band you've never heard of, these guys prove - at least to me - that a side project can kick more ass than some full-blown bands. And for Christ's sake, it's Dino Cazares (Fear Factory) - which is how I first learned of DH -
with Tommy Vext, of whom I'd never even heard before, on vocals. The whole album is fucking awesome, as opposed to some of those albums where one or two songs kick ass. So cough up the $8 or whatever it is for the CD (seriously, fucking cheap!) and make your parents so scared of what comes out of your speakers that they threaten to evict you from your beautiful subterranean apartment.
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The End - Elementary
These guys are from Canada.... but they're still good. The song "Throwing Stones" is what first grabbed my attention. Definitely worth a listen, and I command you to do so right now.
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Loreena McKennitt - Nights from the Alhambra
I've always loved Loreena McKennitt's voice, which is able to soothe me into a feeling of perpetual melancholy in one moment, and into a blind rage where I attempt to stab myself in the face with a milk carton just to stop the rising emotion the next. She's from Canada, too.
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Gojira - From Mars to Sirius
I don't give a rotting pile of shit if it was from 2005, it's a great fucking album. Gojira has got to be one of the loudest, tightest, fullest-sounding bands I've ever raped my ears with. Even when my aural organs scream, cry, and threaten to fall off, I crank the volume knob up to 31. Oh, yes, it goes there.
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Mnemic - Passenger
This causes some controvery, I know, because I actually really like this album, while other, older, wiser record-label types disagree with me. Tough shit. "In The Nothingness Black" is a song that these dudes from Denmark had cranking out of my speakers on a few dozen occasions.
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Drunken Toddlers - AIM Sessions & Booze-Fueled Karaoke
Okay, so it's not so much a band as it is Justin (D'Angelo, Tour Coordinator at Roadrunner Records) and myself fucking around like two retarded monkeys who, thankfully, are constipated, and instead simply throw verbal shit. With song lyrics like "bloody cum fart" and death metal renditions of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" performed live at Fresno's in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, we've already proven to be far superior to your Blake Lewis and your Soulja Boy.
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